An Artist's New Year's Resolutions

Artist Shirley Monestier in her garden:
work in progress "Hand of God"

2014 has been an incredibly busy and productive year with travel, visitors, some thankfully minor surgeries and the growth of my art business. During this past year I focused on the business aspect of being an artist: marketing and selling my art. I was honored and delighted by the reviews, sales and exhibitions of my artworks.

It's incredibly frustrating when I want only to be in my studio creating art, yet knowing that to share my art I have to devote time to selling my art.

To share my art, during 2014 I:

• launched an Etsy store with select artworks; my Etsy store is still a work in progress 
• added new artworks to my website Shirley Monestier's Spirit of Art Gallery 
• exhibited in Mexico at Colors on Canvas in Puerto Vallarta
• had a preview exhibit of my Orchids of Vietnam series at D'Art Gallery in Washington D.C.
• was the featured artist in Maison de la Culture Noire Americaine in Paris
• interviewed two amazing female artists for my newsletter:
• Sharon McConnell-Dickerson
• Marie Johnson-Calloway
• shared interesting quotes, news and tips, and stories about art and artists with my social media network

Thank you to all of my dear friends and online friends around the globe who have supported my art in 2014; I'm delighted to have sold so many paintings this year and had so many supportive emails, posts, and comments from you.

In 2015 I resolve to:

1. expand my Etsy store with more original artwork, giclees, and art gifts
2. interview more amazing and inspiring artists and share them with you on my newsletter
3. share my artist's eye and inspirations with all of you via my online art gallery, on Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest, Google Plus and Twitter
4. paint, PAINT and PAINT 

    Happy New Year    Bonne Annee    Feliz Ano Nuevo

Wishing you a happy, healthy 2015

Shirley

Colors on Canvas

I’m departing France for the winter, and looking forward to returning to our condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We have wintered in PV for 11 years, and enjoy not just the warmth and beauty of this charming seaside village, but also the lively art scene.

I have found friendship and a common bond at Colors on Canvas PV with a group of women artists painting and living in Puerto Vallarta who create original acrylic and oil paintings.  The goal of our group is to promote exhibitions and donate proceeds from the sale of our paintings to the local library, Biblioteca Los Mangos.

Our next exhibition is later this month:

ART EXHIBITION TO BENEFIT BIBLIOTECA LOS MANGOS

Friday, Nov. 29th from 6 – 9 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30th from 2 – 5 p.m.

 Sunday, Dec. 1st from 1 – 3 p.m.

 Sala Bernice Starr, Biblioteca Los Mangos (Library) Ave. Francisco Villa 1001

The decline of public funding for the arts and for libraries is something we care deeply about. By exhibiting and selling our art at the Los Mangos library we hope to be able to share our talents and love of the arts and give something back to the Puerto Vallarta community that has been so welcoming to us.

If you aren't able to visit our exhibition in person, please show your support for public libraries and visit the Colors on Canvas website and LIKE our Facebook page: and we hope you’ll find some artwork for your home!

This year I’m excited to be exhibiting 7 pieces (all are acrylics on canvas):

MILTONIA ORCHID,  28 x 20in : 70 x 50cm

MILTONIAOPSIS ORCHID,  20 x 28in : 50 x 70cm

BEAUTIFUL ORCHID, 16 x 32in : 40 x 80cm

SWEET NECTAR, 30 x 30in : 77 x 77cm

MADAME BUTTERFLY,  16 x 16in : 40 x 40cm

NIGHT FISHING UNDER PURPLE MOON, 22 x 15in : 50 x 38cm

ABSTRACTION IN COLORS, 92 x 183in : 36 x 72cm